M Audio Keystation 88 Mk3 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

M Audio's Keystation 88 Mk3 is an incredibly multi-faceted midi controller and is a powerful addition to any Ableton Live setup. This midi keyboard has a wealth of features that make it ideal for use with Ableton Live.

This tutorial will show you the whole process of how to operate the M Audio Keystation 88 Mk3 with Ableton Live. It will cover the steps of connecting, setting up and midi mapping the Keystation 88 Mk3.

Article Contents

1. Does the M Audio Keystation 88 Mk3 work with Ableton Live?
2. Does the M Audio Keystation 88 Mk3 come with ableton Live included?
3. How to connect the Keystation 88 Mk3 to ableton
4. How to midi map the M Audio Keystation 88 Mk3 in Ableton Live
5. The Limitations of midi mapping the Keystation 88 Mk3
   1. Saving your Keystation 88 Mk3 Midi Mappings is cumbersome
   2. Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one
   3. Limited Ableton parameter options to map to
   4. A great solution to these problems
6. Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the M Audio Keystation 88 Mk3 work with Ableton Live?

In a nutshell, the M Audio Keystation 88 Mk3 is able to work fully with Ableton Live.

The lack of a MIDI remote script in Ableton Live does not restrict users from midi mapping the Keystation 88 Mk3 to multiple functions inside the program.

All versions of Ableton Live, Intro, Lite, standard and suite can be used in conjunction with pretty much any device which sends MIDI data, and it will work with all versions of Live such as 9, 10 and 11. As the Keystation 88 Mk3 is a MIDI enabled device it will be fully compatible with Ableton.

Making your own midi mappings is a breeze with Ableton Live, which gives you the ability to control a lot of components of the software with your Keystation 88 Mk3.

Does the M Audio Keystation 88 Mk3 come with ableton Live included?

You get a complimentary version of Ableton Live Lite with the Keystation 88 Mk3, but its worth noting that the features of Ableton Live Lite are not as full as those of Ableton Live Standard or Suite.

There are three main versions of Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Whilst Intro and Standard are highly functional, Suite includes an additional 70GB library of sounds, in comparison to Standard's 10GB.

For those seeking the full range of Audio and MIDI effects, we highly suggest purchasing Ableton Live Suite, as it offers significantly more than the Standard edition.

How to connect the Keystation 88 Mk3 to ableton

Connecting the M Audio Keystation 88 Mk3 with Ableton Live is pretty simple, and when the two are linked you'll be able to adjust the software's parameters from your midi keyboard.

1. Connect the Keystation 88 Mk3 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Keystation 88 Mk3 and your computer.
2. Launch Ableton Live and open the MIDI preferences.
Double click the Ableton Live icon to launch the software. Then, in the top menu of Ableton, go to the Preferences menu by opening the ‘Live’ menu and clicking ‘Preferences’.
3. Select the Keystation 88 Mk3 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Keystation 88 Mk3 are checked.
4. Ensure that the ‘Track’, ‘Remote’ and ‘Sync’ boxes are all checked.
In the ‘MIDI’ section of this tab, make sure the ‘Track’ and ‘Remote’ boxes are checked for both the Input and Output of the Keystation 88 Mk3 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Keystation 88 Mk3 is all set and can now be used with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

Upon making a successful connection between the M Audio Keystation 88 Mk3 and Ableton Live using the instructions above, you can now use MIDI mapping to allocate the physical knobs, pads, keys etc on the device to their respective functions in Ableton Live like this:

1. Select the MIDI Map Mode button in the top right corner of the Live window. The button should turn orange, indicating that the MIDI Map Mode is enabled.
2. Select the parameter you wish to control in Ableton by clicking it with the cursor, the parameter will become highlighted.
3. Move a control on the Keystation 88 Mk3, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Keystation 88 Mk3.
5. Moving the physical control on your Keystation 88 Mk3 will now move the position of the corresponding parameter in Ableton.
6. Repeat steps 2 - 4 for any other parameters you wish to map.
7. When you’re finished mapping, press the MIDI Map Mode button again to disable it.

The Limitations of midi mapping the Keystation 88 Mk3

Ableton's midi mapping system provides a great way to quickly customize your Keystation 88 Mk3, though it does have a few limitations to be mindful of...

Saving your Keystation 88 Mk3 Midi Mappings is cumbersome

Saving your mappings can be a problem as mappings are saved with an Ableton session, so if you start a new session you will need to re-map your controls again.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

A one-to-one MIDI mapping means that each button or knob on your Keystation 88 Mk3 can only be assigned to control a single parameter in Ableton Live.

Limited Ableton parameter options to map to

Unfortunately, Ableton's internal midi mapping mode does not provide every control option, so options such as controlling the selected track or selected device aren't possible. A full list of Ableton midi mapping options can be found here.

We have a great solution to these problems

If you're looking to get the most out of your Keystation 88 Mk3, our Ableton Midi Script Creator tool 'Control Surface Studio' is exactly what you need!
With it, you'll be able to:
- save and re-use your Keystation 88 Mk3's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Keystation 88 Mk3,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Keystation 88 Mk3, than Live's internal midi mapping mode allows.

Learn more about Control Surface Studio and see how it can help you by clicking here!

FAQ / Troubleshooting

Why can't I hear my Keystation 88 Mk3 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Keystation 88 Mk3 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Keystation 88 Mk3 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Keystation 88 Mk3.
4. Make sure that the Keystation 88 Mk3 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.